Author: admin

Jan 23 – Introduction

Topics

  • Introductions
  • Complete Web Design Survey
  • Review Syllabus
  • Introduction to Slack.
  • Basic Web Terminology: HTML, CSS, JS, URL, FTP, Server, Hex Code, Domain Name, Hosting Space
  • Discussion: What makes a blog different or unique from other types of websites? How are they similar?
  • Introduction to Project 1

Homework

  • Buy textbook and class supplies
  • Sign Up for Web Media Slack Group and post a description of the objects and the audience marker you have chosen for Project 1 in #317_sp17 channel by 11:59pm Jan 24. Respond to a post by at least one other classmate prior to class on Jan 25. Review Slack Video Guides if you need help getting started.
  • Review syllabus

Reminder: A set of Review Questions are given every Wednesday, including next class.

Dec 14 – Final Presentations

Topics

  • Practice Interview Presentations
  • Make sure all work has been submitted on Google Drive.

Have a safe, relaxing and productive break. I hope most of you will continue to build your portfolio websites. I look forward to working with you in the spring.

Dec 9 – Work Day

Topics

  • Work Day
  • Complete Surveys

Due Sunday, December 11 at 11:59pm

  • Portfolio/Documentation assignment on Google Drive

For Wednesday, December 14 at 10:30 (THE FINAL)

  • Present one web piece in portfolio in faux interview. Remember to practice and be prepared for questions during your presentation. Your presentation should be 5 minutes.

Dec 9 – Work Day

Topics

  • Course Surveys
  • Copyright forms.
  • Work Day

      • Due on December 11 at 11:59pm

      • Final prototype assignment, process books and time sheets on Google Drive

      Due on December 14

      • Presentation of web consultation findings and proposed solutions (prototypes). Presentations are done as a group and should be between 15-20 minutes.
      • Complete survey on collaboration and teamwork in group — can complete during the final.

      REMINDER: The final is from 8-10am on Wednesday, December 14.

Dec 5 – Critique

Topics

  • Critique
  • User Testing with Dave and Chris
  • Work Day

Due December 7

  • Complete HTML of prototype, validate and have teammates check
  • Start mobile styles

Dec 2 – Critique

Topics

  • YMCA Brand Guide
  • Use of Cache via Monotype’s student program
    • Licensing: Monotype’s Student Font Pack (see page 3)
    • Font-weight for Book is 300, for Medium is 500 and for Bold is 700
    • The font-family ‘Cachet W01’
    • Add this <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="//fast.fonts.net/cssapi/02709ad9-3bd9-4ba1-9fa4-076dafaf5778.css"⁄> to the head of the HTML files
    • Note: this will only work for student projects hosted on the Oswego domain
  • Usability Hub for User Testing
  • Critique

Due December 2 at 11:59pm

  • Revised versions of reports

Due December 5

  • Revised prototypes

Nov 30 – Portfolios

Topics

  • Follow up on feedback from Monday’s presentations.
  • Portfolios: What to include? How to design? Commit to specific assignment.

Due for December 2

  • Gather documentation and content for portfolio. Bring printed drafts of text to exchange with peers in class.
  • Sketches and preliminary planning for portfolio.
  • Prepare for Critique on December 5.

Nov 28 – Interview Practice

Topics

  • Present Project 2 in simulated interview (5 min each)
  • Hand back evaluations of Vote Oswego

Due November 30

  • Review syllabus for requirements for Design Documentation & Portfolio Design assignment. Come prepared with a proposal for what option you plan to pursue.
  • Identify how you want to promote yourself in your portfolio. Make this decision based on the type of position you want to pursue upon graduation. Are you a graphic design generalist? A web designer? A UX designer? A print expert? An illustrator? What content do you need to tell this narrative about yourself and your work?
  • Based on the practice interviews completed in class (your observations of others and the feedback the group received in discussion), edit/revise the content and documentation of project 2 for your portfolio. Write out a draft of the text you will need, gather images or other documentation, etc. You will not be able to develop a useful user flow for your portfolio until you have a clear idea of what content you need to design for.

Nov 18 – Work Day

Topics

  • Design for Real Life

Due November 21

  • Critique (timed)
  • Implement technique or idea from Design for Real Life into your process

Due after break

  • Present project as if in an interview (5min)

Nov 14 – Visiting Designer

Topics

  • Dan Rose Visit

Due Nov 16 at 4pm

  • Any and all revisions to Project 2. Please be sure to label all revised files with the date the work was last revised (example project2_website_revised_Nov14).
  • All extra credit write-ups (Dan Rose talk at 4pm and Get Worked Up).

Nov 9 – Work Day

Topics

  • Discuss Design for Real Life
  • Finish Crits
  • Continue working on Project 2

Due Nov 11

  • Read and take notes on Chapters 4 and 5 in Design for Real Life

Nov 9 – Work Day

Topics

  • Discuss collaborative writing strategies as follow up to Stephanie Pritchard’s visit on Monday
  • Work in groups

Due Nov 9

  • Prepare for Review Questions on Friday

Nov 4 – Work Day

Topics

Remember that Rebecca is at a conference today. If you have questions, you can reach her on Slack. Use today to collaborate with your team so that you are prepared for Monday’s writing workshop.

  • Work Day
  • Remember to keep track of your time on this project using an app like Toggl or in a Spreadsheet. Specifically, track the date, the task, and the time on that task

Due Nov 7 – Team

Due Nov 7 – Individual

Now that you have had some distance from project 2, you are in a better position to evaluate your design work. Answer each of the questions below separately (number in the file you turn in). Submit written evaluation on Google Drive as a PDF (yourname_p2evaluation.pdf) in your Project 2 folder.

  1. Evaluate the effectiveness of your typographic choices. Support your claims with evidence, examples and screenshots. Use appropriate vocabulary. Address what you could do in the future to make the typography stronger.
  2. How strategic is your design? Consider your personal goals and the goals/needs of your intended audience. How did you address these goals/needs? What could you have done to address these goals/needs more effectively?
  3. Evaluate the overall user experience. Is the site functional? Is the site usable? Is the site desirable? Explain. Be sure to address how the site is organized, how well the site works across screen sizes, the navigation (if there is any), and what makes your site stand out in a sea of other job applicants (what is unique or memorable?). Evaluation requires that you look at both the strengths and the weaknesses of your design.

Nov 2 – Advisement

Topics

  • Advisement
  • Work day

Due Nov 4

  • Read and take notes on Chapter 3 in Design for Real Life

Due Nov 7

  • Be prepared to show significant progress on Project 2. Come prepared with specific questions for critique. Use The Challenge of Constructive Criticism and How to Get It as a guide for how to frame questions in critique. Be prepared to demonstrate what you have learned and implemented as a result of User Testing, etc.

Nov 2 – Advisement

Topics

Due Nov 7 – Team

Due Nov 7 – Individual

Now that you have had some distance from project 2, you are in a better position to evaluate your design work. Answer each of the questions below separately (number in the file you turn in). Submit written evaluation on Google Drive as a PDF (yourname_p2evaluation.pdf) in your Project 2 folder.

  1. Evaluate the effectiveness of your typographic choices. Support your claims with evidence, examples and screenshots. Use appropriate vocabulary. Address what you could do in the future to make the typography stronger.
  2. How strategic is your design? Consider your personal goals and the goals/needs of your intended audience. How did you address these goals/needs? What could you have done to address these goals/needs more effectively?
  3. Evaluate the overall user experience. Is the site functional? Is the site usable? Is the site desirable? Explain. Be sure to address how the site is organized, how well the site works across screen sizes, the navigation (if there is any), and what makes your site stand out in a sea of other job applicants (what is unique or memorable?). Evaluation requires that you look at both the strengths and the weaknesses of your design.

Oct 28 – Project 3 Intro

Topics

  • Introduction to Web Consultation Report: See student example from last year.
  • Meet with Kerrie Web, Executive Director, Oswego YMCA
    • Clarify goals of Oswego YMCA
    • How does website support goals of YMCA?
    • Who are the members of the YMCA?
    • What tasks do members or potential members of the YMCA try to complete on the website?
  • Writing surveys: informed consent, avoid bias, maintaining anonymity, etc.

Due Oct 30 at 12pm

  • Project 2 published and files submitted on Google Drive
  • Be sure that all files documenting your process for Project 2 are submitted

Due Oct 31

  • Read p1-18 of RGD Accessibilty Handbook (note that there is one section on page 2 about compliance with Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. This obviously only applies to Canada (and Ontario specifically). In the US we have the American Disabilities Act and Section 508 (which is specific to electonric media).
  • Join #surveyquestions channel on Slack. Propose at least one survey question (with any MC answers, etc.) and comment on submissions by peers. Active participation is important.

October 26 – Work Day

Topics

Due October 28

  • Familiarize yourself with the Oswego YMCA website
  • Write up findings from 3 User Tests on Project 2 (Submit User Test Script and Findings Report as a PDF).
  • Scan and submit notes from Critique on monday (PDF).
  • Copyright Documentation for Project 2

Due October 30 at 12pm

  • Final code files for Project 2 on Google Drive
  • Shortcut to live site on Google Drive

October 24 – Experiments

Topics

  • Evaluating Vote Oswego project
  • Lessons learned from field trip
  • Planning for Project 2
  • UI Design Challenge: Display presidential election data from Oswego County since 1988 as tabular data so that it is visually easy to compare from election to election (include year, candidate name, candidate party affiliation, how many votes they received and who won.). Design as an optional module for the Vote Oswego website. Data for this challenge can be found on the Oswego County Government website.

Due October 26

  • UI Design Challenge.
  • Revised proposal with timeline.
  • Vote Oswego peer evaluation.

October 21 – Mobile CSS

Topics

Due October 24

  • Prepare for in-class critique. CSS for mobile and large screens should be complete (medium screens might still need some work). Make draft site live via FTP so that you can test your site on mobile devices and iPads.

October 21 – Field Trip

Field Trip

  • Meet at MCC 137 at 11:45am for pizza lunch.
  • Leave campus by 12:10pm
    • Riding in school van: Alyssa, Yaneczka, Halle, Trevor, Alex M., James, Rebecca, Dave, Marissa
    • Driving Separately: Lily (meeting us there), Alex S., Miranda, Julia
  • Arrive at ACS by 1pm (7453 Morgan Road, Liverpool, NY 13090). Meet with Jonathan LaPlante
  • Arrive at corporate headquarters for Raymour and Flanigan by 2:30pm (7248 Morgan Rd.
    Liverpool NY 13090). Meet with Sara Ravesi.
  • Return to campus 4:30-5:00pm

Due October 24

  • Proposals for Project 2 (what is the design problem, who is the audience, what do you want to learn/focus on)
  • What criteria should the Vote Oswego project (product, process, etc.) be evaluted against? Why? Provide list with reasoning as a PDF on Google Drive. Bring a printed copy to class to discuss.
  • Thank you notes: (1) to donor who supplied lunch (thank you cards were supplied by Jenny); (2)Thank you cards to Jonathan LaPlante (ACS) and Sara Ravesi (Raymour and Flanagan)

October 19 – Crunch Time

Topics

  • Prepare for field trip on Friday: Meet at 11:45 in MCC 137. Dress business casual. Prepare questions for our visits. Bring notebooks, etc.
  • User testing for Lily
  • To do lists for last minute changes for Vote Oswego

For October 21

  • Complete Vote Oswego project — files should be 100% ready for client handoff by 8am.

October 17 – Critique

Topics

  • Planning for this week and next.
  • Critique Alex Sorbello’s Project
  • Check-in about process of Vote Oswego Project.
  • Review feedback from User-tests.
  • Critique of Vote Oswego Project.
  • Assign Vote Oswego Project tasks

Due October 19

  • Finalize Vote Oswego project. Some time in class will be available for last minute tweaks.

October 17 – Critique

Topics

Due October 19

  • Read Chapters 5-7 in Don’t Make Me Think by Steve Krug.
  • Complete HTML for Project 2: Personal Brand.
  • Revise module mockups.